Elastic Limit Of Wire

Purpose

To demonstrate the variation in tensile strength with wire diameter.

Equipment

Wire tester with wire, as photographed.

Images

Description

Two wires are used: 24 AWG, 0.474 mm diameter, and 20 AWG, 0.786 mm diameter. The ratio of tension required to break two wires is proportional to the square of their diameters, for this case F2 / F1 = 2.75. The two wires can be br oken, the required tensions read off the attached spring scale, and the ratio calculated.◙